PS:
@Ravenbird I too at first wondered about the use of prong for "activating" as I thought in my case, as a noob,
That might confuse BYB Bonnie as the prong its only for corrections, and btw, once the proper behavior is well practised, ..is now used less and less now, but handy to have...I "think" she understands about skunks...but just in case I make sure she is on leash, on prong, or off leash, on ecollar as a reminder: "leave it!"...just last night after dark return from late sunset hike we passed the neighborhhod striped skunk out looking for food, as usual scavenging crumbs from the HOA pool area where the Mommies sunbathe with kids, and the neighbors feed their little dog on the porch, spilling kibble in the bushes below...
She is pretty sensitive, and per a caution by
@MikeP and a Mike Ellis video on e-collars and "suspicious behaviors" I'm being very careful in what and how I am trying to communicate. Bonnie has great home defense instincts but an assessment at 10 months on protection training was "she's a runner"...
She is just a pet, in a neighborhood full of kids, so based on that I've socialized and trained her that she is NOT to address threats outside the home, as thats my job, plus now she is trained as Service Dog, under the collar she has to be, and is, very non-confrontational...ok to watch, look but dont touch. And when people want to pet her, no thanks she is working under the vest and that means no pets, much as she might like...
But for the next one, a working line male, I'd be looking for something fiercer, a different job, so getting MY understanding and training plans in place is a first step. Including if I have the time and energy to do justice to IGP...and that includes the availability of working clubs, time to travel...there isnt much here- mostly in the Bay Area, Central Valley- 6-8 hour drive...
I also have read the use of a harness, pulling back on it, is what primed the dog to attack, plus the threats made by decoy.
And so I reread the posts and your description of Christian experimenting with that, as not a full time thing, that would possibly confuse the dog, but lets see how we can get Asha spun up, in that one session.
So, interesting idea, depends on "the dog in front of you".
@Ravenbird based on your latest descriptions of Asha, you dont need much to "activate" her, defense drive based on her barking...
Is there anything you do otherwise, to get Asha to alert, or get ramped up, as needed? A verbal prompt, gesture?
PS: I've been thinking of getting the IGP type harness used for training and using it for biking, maybe bike-joring, if thats acceptable for light load-bearing, fits dobes.
Any suggestions on best ones made for Dobes?@remy,
@MikeP,
@Nordika ,
@JanS ,
@Ravenbird,
@Katyusharocket or others?
